Formula One: Button wary as focus falls on Fernando

Ferrari made their intentions known during the German Grand Prix towards the end of July via the team orders controversy that saw Felipe Massa cede the win to Alonso.

After finishing runner-up in the subsequent race in Hungary and taking the chequered flag again on Ferrari's home soil of Monza just 12 days ago, Alonso is firmly in the hunt for his third title.

With Massa effectively driving as Alonso's wingman, compared to the inner battles being waged within McLaren and Red Bull, Button is wary of the threat posed by the Spaniard.

"It does help him, he has an advantage, there's no getting away from that," said Button when asked about the situation, with Alonso 21 points behind championship leader Mark Webber.

"We can't do anything about that really. We've just got to make sure we're quicker. It's about doing a better job over the weekend. If they are quicker in qualifying then you are unlikely to finish in front of them, and Massa will obviously take some points off you should he be ahead of you.

"So yeah, he has an advantage, but hopefully he won't have a car advantage for these next few races."

Team-mate Lewis Hamilton knows all about how strong a competitor Alonso can be after working alongside him at McLaren in 2007. Albeit that was with a degree of acrimony as their relationship soured, and in the wake of the 'spygate' saga which blew the team apart.

"Fernando is a phenomenal racing driver, so he's always going to be dangerous if he is in a competitive car," said Hamilton.

"But people have asked who are my closest rivals. Obviously Jenson, then Fernando, then Mark because he is leading the championship.

"Ferrari have really stepped up their game and seem to be very competitive at the moment. I am assuming they are our closest rival at the moment."

The hope within McLaren is that they have conquered their gremlins that saw them produce poor performances in Monaco and Hungary, two tracks very similar in characteristics to Singapore's Marina Bay, where Sunday's race will take place.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, however, has dismissed McLaren's likely challenge, instead believing Ferrari will run them closer.

"I see Ferrari as the biggest threat," said Horner. "They have a quick car, and arguably they have been the closest to us since halfway through the year."